Home / Sports / Bills' Trade Woes: Benjamin Bust Still Haunts
Bills' Trade Woes: Benjamin Bust Still Haunts
8 Nov
Summary
- Bills GM admitted to a past failed trade for Kelvin Benjamin.
- Benjamin trade cost the Bills multiple draft picks.
- He played only 16 games for the Bills with minimal impact.
As the 2026 NFL trade deadline approaches, the Buffalo Bills, with a 6-1 record and top AFC seed, are exploring potential moves to address their suspect pass defense, particularly at safety and cornerback. General Manager Brandon Beane is reportedly open to acquiring new talent, but a significant past trade failure serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved.
During Beane's first season as GM in 2017, the Bills sent a 2018 third-round and seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. This trade, now considered one of the worst deadline deals of the past decade, yielded minimal results for Buffalo.
Benjamin, acquired when he was 26, was intended to be a prominent X receiver. However, he failed to replicate his earlier career success, catching only 39 passes for two touchdowns in 18 appearances before his release during the 2018 season. He briefly played for the Chiefs and attempted a comeback with the Giants in 2021 as a tight end, but never played another regular season game.
